Aldridge out indefinitely

Bad news if you were hoping to see a few more wins this year. According to Brian Hendrickson (thanks to "Caproom09" in the Blazer forum for the tip) LaMarcus Aldridge will sit out for an undetermined about of time while doctors try to get to find out what is causing the shortness of breathe and erratic heartbeat that Aldridge experienced during the Clipper game on Saturday. From Hendrickson's "Blazer Banter" blog:

Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard on Tuesday said Aldridge would miss Wednesday's game against Utah and will be out indefinitely while a "battery of tests" are run to rule out possible causes of Saturday's ailments, which were initially believed to be caused by dehydration.

"Anytime you get dizzy during a game and you have a heartbeat that gets a little higher than normal, it's cause for concern," Pritchard said. "But he feels great, he's ready to get back out here and play. That's the kind of kid he is. But we want to be very precautionary and frivolous with what we do with him from here on out."

[snip]

Pritchard said Aldridge would undergo one more test in Portland, then fly to Los Angeles later in the week for another series of tests with several doctors that include more than just heart specialists. Pritchard said Aldridge was doubtful for this weekend's three-game road trip to Texas, and his availability beyond that is uncertain.

Aldridge underwent a series of pre-draft tests last summer and a physical when he arrived in Portland, none of which revealed a medical condition which could explain Saturday's ailments, Pritchard said. The lack of history and inconclusive tests made the possible cause and seriousness of the situation unclear. Pritchard said the team and Aldridge's doctors are now in the process of determining what could not have caused the ailments.

Hendrickson also says that Travis Outlaw will start in place of Aldridge, and that Luke Schenscher's contract will probably be extended for the rest of the season.